As endings go, if that's what it was, David Price had envisioned it differently.

Given the possibility that Wednesday might have been his last start at the Trop before being traded, the Rays ace had hoped to go out celebrating a complete-game victory, not walking off the mound after allowing a home run and being pulled with two outs to go.

But as much as Price was focused on finishing the game, which still ended up a 5-1 win, he also acknowledged the potential that it was goodbye. As the 23,671 fans throughout Tropicana Field stood and roared for Price as he neared the dugout, he tipped his cap, then waved in gratitude for their support.

"If this is my last game here, thanks," he explained later.

There are no indications any deal is imminent. But there is significant speculation throughout baseball that the Rays, saddled with a majors-worst 32-48 record in an unexpectedly disappointing season, will trade Price, and soon, seeking to maximize his value in acquiring premium young talent.

Nearly a dozen teams had scouts at Wednesday's game, including two each from the Blue Jays and Royals. The Braves, Cardinals, Dodgers and Giants are among other teams considered serious possibilities.

And with the Rays heading out on a long trip and Price's next two starts slated for Tuesday in New York and July 6 in Detroit, there is some reason to the rumblings.

Price insisted he doesn't know what's going to happen either, and he was only thinking it might have been his Trop farewell because of what he read and heard from reporters.

"You guys do, so what am I supposed to think?" he said.

If it was, he went out in vintage style with a dominant outing. He allowed only five hits and the one run, improving to 6-7, 3.63 while striking out 11, the fifth straight game he was in double-digit K's, the first to do so in 10 years.